Pol Roger Luncheon and Tasting

Thursdays the BottleBlog will feature an update on various exciting things going on at Joe Canal's: Reports of our travels, special event coverage, and more! Today we're attending a luncheon and tasting some fantastic champagnes!

In September, Debbie Miller Nelson, Wine Manager of the Iselin store and Steve Wernick, Wine Sales Associate of the Lawrenceville store, had the privilege to meet Laurent D'Harcourt from Pol Roger. Laurent was in town for a few days and invited us to a 6-course lunch at Elements in Princeton where we had the opportunity to taste through 7 Champagnes each perfectly paired with each course.

Founded in 1849, this is one of only a few Grande Marque Champagne houses still family owned and operated. Almost half the vineyards are estate-owned, a rarity in a region where 80% of Champagne is made by large houses, yet around 20,000 wine growers own 88% of the vineyards.

Like hand-crafted jewels, during the elaboration of each cuvée, each lot is kept separate, by village, vineyard, grower and grape variety. Laurent explained that Pol Roger is one of the last producers to do riddling by hand.

Laurent, as you can see by the picture, is a rather tall man with an equally generous charm that lit up as he talked about Pol Roger and their close family friend, Winston Churchill who adored Champagne. Their families are still friends to this day and Laurent peppered our conversations about old times and Churchill quotes.

The highlight of the tasting was the 1998 Cuvee Winston Churchill. If we could only sip fine Champagne for lunch every Monday!

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Steve’s Savvy Selections: Pol Roger Brut Reserve NV

"Champagne is incredibly versatile and delicious. While it’s always a part of celebrations, its ability to pair with virtually any dish makes it perfect for every day enjoyment. Pol Roger is finely effervescent, with a toasty floral nose. The palate reveals crème brulee, while being beautifully balanced. The dry, clean finish is a revelation. Produced by a 5th generation family-owned estate, this will become your go-to champagne." -Steve Wernick, Wine Sales Associate, Lawrenceville


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Deb’s Spotlight: Pol Roger Cuvee Winston Churchhill 1998

Amazing!! The floral aromas of this brilliant cuvee exudes flowers, ginger and warm spices. The weight of the Champagne can easily be matched with pork belly, short ribs or any rich, salty meats like prosciutto. The wine is fresh, crisp and lively and is a complement to any wine cellar. -Debbie Miller Nelson, Wine Manager, Woodbridge